Apr 14, 2008
Shays talks energy, war, politics at meeting
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by Laura Modlin
Correspondent
Rising fuel costs, environmental issues and the ongoing war in Iraq were fresh on the minds of Easton residents who came out to hear from Congressman Christopher Shays on Saturday.
The Republican representative for Connecticut’s 4th District made a stop at town hall, the first in a series of constituents’ meetings around the district.
About 25 residents gathered to hear what the congressman had to say about issues residents face on local, national and international levels.
Mr. Shays began the exchange by writing down the questions residents had so he could best organize what he would say to be able to include as many of the residents’ concerns as possible.
The main topics discussed by the longtime congressman were energy and the environment, the war in Iraq and the changing face of politics.
Energy and the environment
Mr. Shays believes that the country’s main focus where energy is concerned should be on lowering demand for oil through an emphasis on conservation.
He has introduced what he calls “a comprehensive bipartisan energy reform bill” (H.R. 1945), which he says aims to decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil, protect the environment, increase the market for renewable energy and encourage energy conservation.
If this country could lower its oil consumption, the prices for oil would drop, he said. He supports putting money into renewable energy sources and said he would be “on board” for using nuclear power, citing that Europe “successfully” utilizes nuclear power.
But he also stressed the need for the President to back any plan to help the energy situation.
“In this kind of heavy lifting, it will take the President to bring us together,” he said. “It would take a significant effort, and our advantage over other countries is we see things as challenges not problems.”
A resident stated that a solution to the energy issue needs to be worldwide. If policies were put into place here in the U.S. without the same policies being set in Japan and India, it would just provide another incentive for companies to move overseas, he reasoned.
Mr. Shays agreed that the solution has to be comprehensive, but said that cleaning our own environment could not be considered a bad thing no matter what others do.
“If we wait for others, though, nothing will get done,” he said.
Mr. Shays noted that the younger generation is particularly passionate about the need to do something to protect the environment.
As they inherit a world being dangerously warmed by greenhouse gas emissions and stripped of its natural resources, he said “our kids are saying, ‘How could they do this? What were they thinking?’”
Iraq
A resident began the discussion of whether or not the U.S. should stay in Iraq by suggesting that the U.S. is not safer since entering Iraq and questioned Mr. Shays on his continued support of President Bush’s policy.
The congressman acknowledged his support for going into Iraq and said that the U.S. “can’t leave” now.
The resident responded that it’s important for the U.S. to invest in other things and added that the country cannot afford to stay there with no plan to get out. He went on to say that the U.S. needs to make the Iraqis “directly” interested in being independent.
Having met a lot of Iraqis during his visits to the country, Mr. Shays said he thinks they are “as brave as can be” after having lived under Saddam Hussein for so many years. He noted that Hussein killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.
The congressman added that Iraqis had a tough life before and they’re having a tough life now.
“I thought there were weapons of mass destruction,” he said. “I went to several other countries and they thought so, too. Only France said they would not use them... I take full responsibility for my vote.”
Mr. Shays emphasized that he believes that in the last three months to a year there has been “real progress” on the military and diplomatic fronts.
“We cannot just give the country to Iran,” he said. “It could cost half a trillion dollars that we have to pay back over the next 20 to 30 years but we can’t leave.”
A resident said that he believes Al-Qaeda has had “a resurgence,” but the U.S. doesn’t have enough troops and that Afghanistan and Pakistan should be the real targets.
Mr. Shays said those countries have not been ignored, that the U.S. is not one-dimensional in its military positioning.
“If there were less troops in Iraq we would not have more in Afghanistan,” he said.
Mr. Shays said that the terrain in Afghanistan is such that an offensive there requires Special Ops and small movements.
He also said that “we have overused the military” and that he is against 15-month missions for the strain they put on the morale of the troops.
Changing face of politics
Near the end of the meeting, Mr. Shays pointed out a man in the audience using a digital movie camera to film the talk.
“People come to these talks taking pictures to see if a candidate makes a mistake,” he said. “This is the new politics. I’m determined to have the same conversation over and over.”
Mr. Shays commented several times throughout the event that he believes this presidential race is going to be different than previous election seasons. He believes people will talk about issues in a more meaningful way.
“I think a Democratic presidential candidate will be chosen fairly soon... and the press will start talking about issues.”
One resident commented that Congress can’t get anything done and that he believes the time has come to “get nasty.”
Mr. Shays responded, “I’ve seen so many people get nasty and that’s the last thing I’m going to do. I want us to talk the truth to each other.”
A reaction
Samantha Ogrodowski of Easton enjoyed hearing what Mr. Shays had to say.
“I’m a Democrat,” she said. “But I don’t really use that to gauge candidates. I actually agree with him on more topics than I disagree. I really appreciate being able to talk to him. I felt he was very straightforward and honest.”
Congressman Shays appreciated the community’s interest.
“This community always gets involved,” he said. “And I’m seeing [in Easton] what I’m seeing elsewhere. People are unhappy with the inability of Congress to address very real problems. I want people to know where I stand on issues and that I’m doing my darnedest on those issues.”
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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